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GSA Official Visits MAGNET, Discusses How American Jobs Act Will Help Northeast Ohio’s Unemployed Veterans

GSA# 10819

October 13, 2011
Dan Cruz, 202-441-0607
dan.cruz@gsa.gov

CLEVELAND, OH – Today, U.S. General Services Administrator Martha Johnson visited MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, to discuss the American Jobs Act and its provisions for veteran employment and job growth in Northeast Ohio. Administrator Johnson met with representatives from the local manufacturing industry and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services who are participating in MAGNET’s employment program for returning veterans.

“The American Jobs Act will make an immediate impact on accelerating job creation and hiring in northeastern Ohio, especially for our returning veterans,” said GSA Administrator Martha Johnson. “We have an obligation to ensure that our veterans are able to succeed in the civilian workforce. MAGNET is doing some remarkable work for local veterans, and the American Jobs Act will allow them to redouble their efforts.”

At MAGNET, Administrator Johnson discussed details of the American Jobs Act, including the new Returning Heroes Tax Credit, a Wounded Warrior Tax Credit, and career-readiness programs for all service members.

In July, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration, MAGNET partnered with the Veterans’ Services group of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to launch a pilot project to match returning U.S. Veterans with specific training for key manufacturing jobs available in Northeast Ohio.

“Manufacturing companies in our region have a critical need for skilled workers. Our pilot program will train and match returning veterans with specific job opportunities such as machinists, inspection/quality technicians and equipment maintenance personnel,” said Daniel E. Berry, President and CEO of MAGNET.

As head of the federal agency responsible for $65 billion a year in government purchases, Administrator Johnson also underscored the steps the U.S. General Services Administration is taking to ensure that it is opening contracting opportunities to veteran-owned businesses as well as offering veterans employment opportunities within the agency.

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As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions includes:
• Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 215,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;
• Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up approximately 14 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;
• Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,
• Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.